Harris County sheriff's deputy killed by drunken driver

Debris at the scene of a accident at the intersection of West Little York and North Shepherd in which a Harris County Sheriff's deputy was killed, the deputy, who has not been identified, was in uniform driving his tan-colored Chevrolet Silverado around 3 a.m. when a 22-year-old man driving a white GMC pick-up ran a red light speeding through the intersection and crashed into the driver's side door of the deputy's truck Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Houston.

Andres Munos-Munos, 22, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, in the death of Sgt. Dwayne Polk, according to Harris County court records.

Photo By James Nielsen/James Nielsen/Chronicle

The intersection of West Little York and North Shepherd in where a Harris County Sheriff's deputy was killed, the deputy, who has not been identified, was in uniform driving his tan-colored Chevrolet Silverado around 3 a.m. when a 22-year-old man driving a white GMC pick-up ran a red light speeding through the intersection and crashed into the driver's side door of the deputy's truck Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Houston.

Photo By Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Harris County Sheriff's deputy Dwayne Polk, seen here March 6, 2009, in Houston, was a 16-year veteran of the force.

Photo By James Nielsen/Chronicle

The incident happened at West Little York and North Shepherd. Debris from the incident is visible in the grass.

Photo By James Nielsen/Chronicle

The incident happened at West Little York and North Shepherd.

Photo By James Nielsen/Chronicle

Evidence at the scene indicated the other driver was intoxicated, police said.

A 16-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff's Office was killed by an alleged drunken driver who ran a red light early Sunday.

Sgt. Dwayne Polk, 47, most recently assigned to the transportation unit, was in uniform driving his tan-colored Chevrolet Silverado around 3 a.m. at the intersection of West Little York and North Shepherd.

"Tough morning," tweeted Sheriff Adrian Garcia at 6:03 a.m. "The HCSO suffered a terrible loss & we are all grieving. Keep HCSO members & their families in your prayers."

Followers responded they would indeed pray. One called for stricter drunken driving laws that would more strongly equate the crime to murder. A federal panel last week recommended that states reduce the allowable blood-alcohol content to 0.05 percent from 0.08 percent.

A 2009 community newsletter from a neighborhood in northwest Harris County lamented that Polk, one of its contracted deputies, was being rotated to a new assignment after six years. "I consider Sheriff's Deputy Polk a friend, I know you join me in wishing him the very best in his new endeavors," the newsletter's author wrote.

Polk grew up in Houston with his two brothers, three sisters and many cousins. The Bible was among the books his mother used to teach him and his siblings to read, according to a 2012 obituary for his younger brother.

"It was tough speaking (with) his son this morning. But he will have many big brothers (at) HCSO looking out 4 him," the sheriff tweeted from his cell phone Sunday.

Cannon said evidence at the scene and statements from Munos indicate that he was intoxicated. The man was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital after he complained of minor injuries.

Munos, who lives in Houston but is not a U.S. citizen, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, according to Harris County court records. A spokesman for the Houston office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could not be reached to clarify the man's legal status.

Records also show Munos accepted a plea bargain agreement for two charges stemming from a June 2012 arrest. He served 30 days in county jail after pleading guilty to driving while under the influence and unlawfully carrying a weapon.